SoooOOOOoooo, it's time to laugh WITH me and AT me again!

Yesterday I sent out ARC copies of Gift of Air to my new & improved ARC team. I'd like to thank those of you who signed up, and I'd like to apologize for being less organized than I thought. Guess who mixed up a.m. and p.m.? 🤪

I scheduled the ARC links from BookFunnel to go out yesterday at 11:30 p.m. instead of 11:30 a.m. -facepalm- So if you're on my ARC team and you started wondering why you hadn't gotten your book yet, well . . . check again.

I think I'm starting to understand why successful indie authors hire personal assistants to handle all this background stuff. 😅

So what's on the docket for this newsletter? I've got another snippet from Gift of Air to share with you in the section below, followed by a couple pictures from a recent camping trip. 💚 Then we've got the usual book fair—packed with freebies and 99¢ deals this time around—a batch of eBooks from my fellow authors, and a chance to get some Victorian Chamber Metal at a discount. 👀

That being said, I'll be sharing between 2-3 eBooks from other authors in each newsletter for the rest of September and all throughout October. I feel like doing that makes my newsletters seem stuffed to the gills, but that's the price I pay for spreading the word about the Lunar Rising anthology far and wide. I hope some of the covers & blurbs ignite your curiosity!

Gift of Air Snippet - Let's Go Camping!

“So what is this, a secret road to a secret campsite?” I gripped the seat to steady myself as the car bounced slowly along the dirt and gravel.

“It’s more than just a secret campsite. We won’t need to fear discovery, that’s for sure. We’re going to a place I’ve never showed to anyone, not even Cord or Jürgen. Since you showed me your silver oak tree, it’s my turn to show you my spring.”

My jaw fell open. “Your spring?”

Horst’s lips curved upward, his eyes fixated upon the road ahead. “It’s the source of the stream that lines my property, sheltered by a stone outcropping, fine sand lining its bottom. I thought we could bathe there while we enjoy the rights of marriage.”

Warmth blossomed in my core, and I clenched my legs together beneath my gown. “Drive faster,” I said, the words erupting from me like an order.

“Lucky for you, we’ve already made it.” Horst parked his car beneath the branches of an elm, pulling the emergency brake and leaving the headlights on. I stepped out of the car before he had a chance to open the door for me, curiosity compelling me forward. The headlights revealed large gray stones a short distance ahead, a thin path winding around to the right. I could hear the water flowing, speaking quietly to my spirit.

Horst opened the back door and gestured for me to join him. “Let’s get your camping stuff unpacked, and I’ll go light the fire while you get settled in. I’d guess you don’t plan on wearing that gown much longer.” He flashed me a grin.

“If you don’t stop dropping hints, I might just strip right here and right now.” I reached into the car to grab the single bag I had packed separately for our camping venture. It held just a few casual outfits, my hairbrush, a flashlight, and a roll of toilet paper.

A fist-sized flame blazed into existence above Horst’s left hand as he tossed my bag over his shoulder and led the way toward our campsite. “Far be it from me to delay you. I wonder what it’ll be like to mate in the water. Pretty sure your air will claim a strong advantage over my fire.”

“Ugh, master. You’re a tease!” I bundled my skirt and sashes around me as I made my way along the trail. This time I resolved not to get stuck.

Once we reached the other side of the outcropping, I paused for a moment to take in the scene before me. The bubbling spring fashioned a lovely pool to my left, its depths invisible on this moonless night. Starlight sparkled off of its surface, and I judged the pool to be about five meters across. Plenty of room for the elemental union of fire and air.

The stream danced its way into the young forest, a cozy tent perched upon a soft bed of pine needles mere steps away from its bank. A pile of firewood sat beneath the outcropping, a rock-lined fire pit halfway between the spring and the tent. Two shaved trunks rested before the pit, seats for two people. Horst had prepared his secret campsite for me.

***

Want to make sure you're in the know when Ilsa's story comes out in JUST two weeks? Don't forget to pre-order Lunar Rising at a discount!

https://books2read.com/lunarrisingset

Camping Pix

On the subject of camping, how about a couple pictures from the quick getaway my husband and I shared just last Friday? Found out there's a LOT more moisture in the Appalachians than in the places we camped out west—Kansas, Colorado, and Montana. If you're feeling dry as a bone, I recommend spending a night in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest. 🌳🌲🌿

My camera's not the best at taking pictures in low light. So you'll have to imagine how refreshing it was to actually be there, hidden away from the bustling world!

✨ Free & Cheap Fantasy Romance Books ✨

Is your e-reader getting a little lonely? Now's your chance to fix that with a fresh batch of free and 99¢ reads from your favorite indie authors! Every book in this promo is on sale for less than a dollar—even the box sets and anthologies. 💖 Grab yourself some magical reads before the sale ends!

✨ Show Me The Books! ✨

Recommended Reading

As I said above, I've got 3 books from my fellow indie authors to share with you today. The best part? All 3 of the books are only 99¢! The two at the bottom are on sale for a limited time, so if you haven't snagged them yet, act fast.

(Dragon Void is on sale because it got a BookBub Featured Deal, and The Cursebound Thief is on sale because it's a new release.)

Alicia loves working with gems but she’s not so great with people. When Maximilian requests her help to search for the Tears of the Queen she wants to say no. Those precious stones are nothing more than a legend and she doesn’t want to go on a wild goose chase.

Max needs Alicia’s help and time is of the essence. He isn’t the only one looking for the Tears and if they fall into the wrong hands, humanity could be enslaved.

Their first meeting is like mixing oil with water. They are strong, opinionated, driven and they both think they are right. The chemistry is instantaneous, a surprise to them both, and they discover that work might not be the only thing they have in common. The only problem is Max has a very big secret that he doesn’t want to share…

*Note: This one's only on Amazon. Sorry. 😣

✨ Get It For 99¢ ✨

A woman born on the wind...

A Turul princess, Evie North has waited long enough for her “one true love”—a man she’s stopped believing truly exists. She throws caution—literally—to the wind and decides to take matters into her own hands. She chooses a handsome stranger from a crowd and falls into bed with him, hoping love might find her in his arms.

A human man drawn to powers beyond his comprehension...

The only thing Marcus Calais knows is that he’s likely to die in a pointless war but also honor-bound to run into battle. At least until he meets an angel named Evie in Central Park who incites stronger desires than he’s ever had and whose songs drive him to levels of passion he never imagined. After just one night with the lovely, waifish beauty, he discovers he has so much more to live for. Will he sacrifice his principles to stay alive for her?

The immortal dragon who owns both their souls...

“Ked” is what his five siblings call him, but others simply refer to the huge black dragon as The Void. He is darkness personified, but nothing is darker than the enemy he is up against. It will take true darkness to fight the evil permeating his world, and to save the female Fate intended for him. But Fate has a funny way of switching things up when he least expects. What will he find when he ventures forth into the enemy’s lair in search of love?

What other surprises does Fate have in store?

✨ 99¢ For A Limited Time! ✨

The world wants a hero. The curse needs a thief.

The party of the decade stands between Jerek Holden and saving the people he would do anything to protect. After twelve years, he’s finally found a way to break the curse that ripped all magic from the world and destroyed the peace that took generations to build. All he needs is one, simple artifact. But he can’t steal the heliostone alone.

A girl with a soul of fire.

A vampire bound by a vow.

A werewolf bent on revenge.

A knight torn between honor and duty.

A hacker to keep them all alive.

The fate of magic lies in their hands―if they can survive long enough to pull off the heist of the century.

✨ New Release Only 99¢ ✨

Victorian Chamber Music, Anyone?

As a fantasy addict myself, I've had a taste for intriguing music for many years.

I especially enjoy supporting local indie bands that don't get enough love! Just yesterday, I learned that one of my favorite bands—and two really awesome people—are running a super cheap sale on their excess CDs that lasts until the end of September. You can get 4 full-length CDs for only $15 plus shipping—and they ship international at an affordable price! 🤩 Jackpot, anyone?

Definitely check out Valentine Wolfe's sale if you're in the market for some haunting yet fantastic music with lovely female vocals mingled with piano, drums, and double bass. You can listen to their music on Spotify, too!

My favorite songs? Somnus Aeterna, Wild Nights, Doomed to Live, and Sin Eater. The last 2 can be found on the albums in the sale. Check it out! 💓

https://valentinewolfe.com/complete-your-collection-sale

***

Pretty sure that covers it for this week. Now it's time for me to settle in with my laptop, relocate a couple lingering panthers, and listen to Valentine Wolfe while I work on my next full-length novel! Finally made it past Chapter One, so here's hoping my muse starts flowing freely now. I can't wait to tell you more about my forthcoming series once Lunar Rising is out in the world!

Don't forget, Gift of Air offers a taste of what's to come. 😉

Talk to you soon,

C.L. Carhart

Pre-order Lunar Rising for 99¢: https://books2read.com/lunarrisingset

Get Arcane Gateway for FREE: https://books2read.com/hnwaag

Valentine Wolfe music sale:

https://valentinewolfe.com/complete-your-collection-sale

This week's book list: https://books.bookfunnel.com/powerfulpwf/667o7y5xdw